The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-03-24
Hon. Chas, Francis Adams, pres

Hon, Chas, Francis Adams, pres
ident of the Union Pacific railroad
company was entertained, with Others,
guests, by the Commercial Club, of
Boston, at Parkers, Saturday eve
ming. The Hon. railroad president,
who seems to be n different type
from the average Vermont railway
president, expressed his mind very
freely ON the Interstate Commerce
bill. We make few extracts;
There are three features of that bin
which excite special comment These
are, first, what is known as the long and
short haul; second, the prohibition of all
rebates, drawbacks and secret arrange
mcms with shippers third, the prohibit
ton of poolmgS, thirk may say that,
as railroad Commissioner, | was almost
the father of what is known as the long
and short haul clause, | have always
maintained that the uncontrolled compcti-
ton of railroads was great evil. 1t had
the necessary tendency of concentrating
business at given points and in few
hands. The geographical point which
did not have the advantage of railroad
competition could not hold its own against
the point which did have that advantage.
So, also. the man who controlled Il small
business could not hold his own against
the man who controlled a large business.
The traffic of the large shipper would
always be sought for on terms more adj
vantagcous than the smaller shipper
could command. AS a Commissioner
always maintained that this was wrong
as railroad President | maintain it j,
wrong to-day. Therefore | am by ne
means prepared to admit that the Inter
state Commerce bill is likely to produce
any serious or injurious results when i
saws that no railroad company shal
charge more for a longer haul than it doe
for Il shorter haul which is included IL
the longer haul, under conditions substan
TALLY the same. | want to see this provis
ion of the act brought into practical oper
alton am not afraid of it. 1t is sub
stantially Just, and where thing is sub
stantially just it is right and where it il
right it should be law. But it is unneces
sary to say that the whole question vii
come up for decision on the scope to b'
given to those five words, under condi
lions substantially the same. In then
there is much labor cut ont for the com
mission, and they are big with litigation
for the courts and fees for the lawyers
As respects the next debated provision
that prohibiting rebates, drawbacks ant
secret arrangements, | do not hesitate t.
put myself on record as saying that this i
right and should be law, and if it has no
been law before, | am glad it is now. NJ
one has suffered more than the railroad
themselves from this system of rebate
!, and drawbacks and secret arrangements
1t has been Il crying wrong. 1t shoul
have been remedied years ago. 1t is we
that it is about to be remedied now.
And as one phase of this question come
up the matter of free passes. As respect
them | have long been on record. | hol
that the free pass system on the railroad
, of this country is an outrageous ADJUST
and that the most radical remedy shout
be applied to it. | think, if the most raC
ical remedy were applied, nothing BIT
good would flow therefrom. How abSm
5 it is that whole classes of persons shoul
= habitually travel for nothing, while Other
. are compelled to pay"